A sense of joy greeted Pope Francis as he looked out from a window of the Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with pilgrims, who have slowly been returning to Rome.
He explained that the life of a Christian is always a fight against evil. He gave the example of St. Peter, who was tempted even after Jesus promised to make him the foundation of the Church.
POPE FRANCIS
It happens to all of us! In moments of devotion, fervor, good will, of nearness to our neighbor, we look to Jesus and continue on, but in moments where we encounter the cross, we run away. The devil, Satan, as Jesus says to Peter, tempts us.
In front of current difficulties, Pope Francis encouraged pilgrims to understand the language of the cross. He said Jesus considers running away from it a stumbling block.
POPE FRANCIS
Considering this, we allow the cross hanging on the wall at home, or that small one we wear around our neck, to be a sign of our desire to be united with Christ in serving, with love, our brothers and sisters, especially the smallest and most fragile.
After the Angelus, the pope called for dialogue and respect for the rule of law. This was in light of tensions between Greece and Turkey over maritime rights and claims to gas reserves.
He lamented the environmental disaster on the Island of Mauritius, caused by an oil spill that has put the ecosystem in danger.
He also said that the “Jubilee for the Earth” will be celebrated from Sept. 1 to Oct. 4. It will begin with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
Daniel Díaz Vizzi
Translation: Claudia Torres
